ST. LOUIS, Mo. – University of Memphis head coach John Calipari has been named a finalist
for the 2009 Henry Iba Award, the U.S. Basketball Writers of America (USBWA) announced
Monday. The Iba Award is the USBWA’s National Coach of the Year honor.

It is the second-straight year Calipari is a finalist for the Iba Award. Last week,
freshman Tyreke Evans was selected as a finalist for the USBWA’s National Player of
the Year honor, which is the Oscar Robertson Trophy.

Calipari has guided the Tigers to a 26-3 overall record and a 14-0 mark in C-USA play.
Memphis jumped into the top five in both national polls in recent weeks, marking the
fourth-straight season the Tigers achieved a top-five national ranking. Calipari also
directed the Tigers to a fourth-straight C-USA regular season title. It is the first
time in the program's history that Memphis has claimed four-consecutive regular season
crowns.

Earlier this season, Calipari became Memphis’ all-time winningest coach, moving past
Tiger legend Larry Finch. Calipari now has a record of 245-68 in his ninth season
at Memphis. With the Tigers’ fifth win in 2008-09, Calipari jumped into the No. 2
spot for most victories by a head coach in his first 17 years at the Division I level.
Only Roy Williams has more wins by a head coach at the NCAA Division I level in the
first 17 years than Calipari.

Last year, Calipari was named the 2007-08 Naismith National Coach of the Year for
the second time in his career. Calipari and Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski are the only two-time
recipients of the Naismith National Coach of the Year honor.